Heat Pack Safety

Heat Packs can bring relief and comfort when they're used correctly. However, as with any product involving heat, they can pose a risk of fire and or injury if they aren't used correctly according to instructions.

 

USE ONLY FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE

The intended purpose of heat packs is as relief for sports-related injuries, muscle strains and arthritis. The heat packs should be used by placing the bag on the part of the body where pain is occurring.

  • Only use a heat pack for direct application to the body and don’t cover it with blankets, pillows or warm clothing as overheated heat packs can potentially ignite when heat is trapped.

FOLLOW HEATING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

  • When heating, don't leave the microwave unattended and make sure the heat pack rotates freely in the microwave turntable.
  • Heat only for the specified time, and remember you shouldn’t reheat a bag that has been heated recently.
  • Saturating heat packs with oils can create an added fire risk. If you choose to add oils to heat packs, use them sparingly and only apply after heating and not before.
  • Heat packs need to be hydrated so they don’t dry out. If you use the heat pack infrequently, it may absorb enough moisture from the air. Otherwise, industry advice recommends applying moisture directly to the surface of the bag by lightly sprinkling or using a water spray bottle.

STORAGE AND REPLACEMENT

  • Only store the heat pack when it has cooled completely (this can take up to 2 hours). Leave it to cool in a safe place where a fire would not spread, e.g. the kitchen sink.
  • Don’t store in excessively hot places such as a car seat in the sun, spontaneous heating can occur and although rare, could potentially pose a risk of fire.
  • Discard the heat pack if there is evidence of over-heating, e.g. discolouration or charring.
  • If you smell burning, your heat pack should be thrown away. Carefully remove the heat pack from the heat source and place it on a non-combustible surface, such as a sink or kitchen bench. Let the heat pack completely cool, then throw it away.